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71% of Cell Sites Down in Puerto Rico

About 71% of the cell sites were down in Puerto Rico today because of Hurricane Maria, the FCC reported, although about 61% of the population was still reported covered by wireless carriers due to roaming agreements. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, 55.4% of cell sites were down, including about 89% of the sites in St. John, but about 88% of the population was covered by wireless carriers. As for cable and wireline systems, at least two switches were out in Puerto Rico due to SS7 or toll isolation. Meanwhile, four TV stations were confirmed operational in Puerto Rico and two were suspected of being out of service. The FCC said that 54 stations have been issued special temporary authority (STA) to be off the air. In the Virgin Islands, eight such stations have been issued STAs. Forty-four AM radio stations were confirmed operational and 29 were confirmed down in Puerto Rico, while 36 FM stations were confirmed operational and 22 were confirmed out of service there.

Two FM radio stations were confirmed operational in the Virgin Islands and two were suspected of being out of service, while two AM radio stations were confirmed operational and two were suspected of being down there. “When broadcast stations are listed as ‘suspected to be out of service’, the statement is based on field scanning of relevant bands,” the FCC explained in its daily outages report. “Stations listed may be operating on reduced power or on a reduced schedule.”